Expanding exports: Govt directs FTWs to prepare country-specific plans

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan directed on Tuesday the Foreign Trade Wings (FTW) to prepare country-specific action plans covering priority products, market-access barriers, logistics and banking challenges, potential buyers and pending institutional engagements. He said this while chairing an internal meeting with the Ministry’s FTW to review Pakistan’s export performance, bilateral trade engagements and progress on trade agreements, as per a statement. During the meeting, he expressed satisfaction over encouraging export growth in several emerging markets and directed officials to build on this momentum through market diversification, stronger business-to-business linkages and closer engagement with overseas trade missions. He emphasized identifying new opportunities for Pakistani rice, textiles, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals, processed food, light engineering goods and services. READ MORE: Jam Kamal adds to calls for governance reform “Trade agreements must provide balanced and commercially meaningful benefits to Pakistan. Existing arrangements should be regularly evaluated, while pending Joint Trade Committee and Joint Working Group meetings should be expedited, ” he said. Kamal also called for closer coordination among the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, overseas missions, chambers of commerce and trade associations to translate diplomatic engagements into tangible export and investment outcomes. “Pakistan’s exporters have demonstrated strong potential in both traditional and emerging markets. Our focus must be on removing barriers, diversifying exports and converting every trade engagement into measurable economic gains, ” he added.

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